Pac-12 WBB notebook: Stanford, UCLA finish rival sweeps while Utah, WSU falter; Arizona holds serve at home; in-conference transfers shine

By Jeff Metcalfe 

In an outrageously entertaining slate of Pac-12 rivalry games, two teams earned season splits and two nationally-ranked teams escaped with a sweep in the second full week of conference play.

No. 8 Utah suffered its first loss overall Friday, falling 77-67 at Colorado just over three weeks after the Utes dominated the Buffs on Dec. 14.

Washington State also made up for a pre-Christmas loss to Washington with a 66-52 win Sunday, led by 26 points from Charlisse Leger-Walker in her return from her native New Zealand.

No. 2 Stanford and No. 12 UCLA also were on the ropes in their rivalry rematches but pulled through with 60-56 (over Cal) and 61-60 (over USC) wins.

Stanford trailed by three points with 4:08 remaining, then finished with a 7-0 run that included Haley Jones scoring on an off-balance drive at 1:17 to put the Cardinal ahead for good. Jones was just 3-of-14 overall as the heavy lifting was done by Cameron Brink with a 25-point, 17-rebound double-double.

Stanford’s Pac-12 winning streak continues, now at 38 games.

USC was even at 58 against UCLA with 1:18 left after leading for most of the game at Pauley Pavilion.

Lina Sontag made two free throws and grabbed a key rebound down the stretch as the Bruins completed a rivalry sweep by a combined four points. The Trojans led 52-40 through the third quarter but were outscored 21-8 in the fourth.

Charisma Osborne returned from injury for UCLA, but USC still was without Kadi Sissoko.

Here is the final scorecard for the eight teams that have completed their rivalries in the regular season:

• Stanford vs. Cal: 90-69 Stanford win, 60-56 Stanford win
• Utah vs. Colorado: 85-58 Utah win, 77-67 Colorado win
• UCLA vs. USC: 59-56 UCLA win, 61-60 UCLA win
• WSU vs. Washington: 82-66 UW win, 66-52 WSU win

Arizona outlasts Oregon schools at home

While Stanford-Cal was tight in the closing seconds, so was No. 18 Oregon at No. 15 Arizona — the only game of the week between ranked opponents.

There were 21 lead changes before more than 7,963 in Tucson, along with nine ties, the last with 3:03 remaining. The Wildcats closed with a 12-4 run that included 8-of-8 free throws. The final score: 79-71.

Madison Conner did not play in the first half for the Wildcats but scored a game-high 16 in 16 second-half minutes.

Arizona needed a 19-4 fourth-quarter run Friday to rally past Oregon State 72-69. The Beavers led 65-53 with 3:57 left but couldn’t complete what would have been a second straight nationally ranked upset.

Instead, Colorado was the only team to beat a ranked Pac-12 opponent this week, earning the Buffs their fifth consecutive win since an earlier loss to Utah.

Intra-conference transfers coming up big

Familiarity is breeding success in Pac-12 women’s basketball.

Of the 10 intra-conference transfers this season, seven are full-time starters and others are making significant contributions.

Utah is benefiting most in the conference swap as forward Alissa Pili, formerly at USC, is third in the Pac-12 in scoring (19.3 ppg) and top 20 in rebounding. Her 63.7 field goal percentage is top 10 nationally and best in the conference.

Other starters on their second Pac-12 team are California’s Kemery Martin (from Utah) and Peanut Tuitele (Colorado), Arizona’s Jade Loville (ASU), Colorado’s Aaronette Vonleh (Arizona), Oregon State’s Bendu Yeaney (Arizona) and Washington’s Dalayah Daniels (Washington).

Taylor Bigby (formerly Oregon) has started some games for USC, and Oregon’s Taya Hanson (ASU) is a super-sub of sorts for Oregon. Koi Love (Arizona) averages double-digit minutes for USC.

Reasons for the movement vary from playing time to coaching changes to postseason goals given a fifth year of eligibility (for COVID). Only the SEC, with 11 transfers, had more intra-conference movement.

“I’m a huge believer in the four-year experience,” Oregon State coach Scott Rueck said. “It’s sad to me we’re seeing that become less because I believe that process is magic and life-changing. There’s no substitute for what happens to you your senior year.

“The reality is, though, things are changing so you have to adapt. So we’re open to it and accept it. When people need to go, they need to go then we need to go find new people.”

OSU’s Yeaney started her career at Indiana for two seasons, then played two at Arizona before returning to her native Oregon, where she is a fifth-year starter playing point guard for the Beavers.

“I’ve been a big fan of Oregon State for a long time growing up there (in Portland),” Yeaney said. “It’s a dream come true. I never knew if I was going to play in an Oregon State jersey and the fact I had a chance to is fun. My dad is a graduate from Oregon State, so this is a present to him.”

Hanson intended to stay for a fifth year at ASU until coach Charli Turner Thorne retired. That triggered an exodus that also included Loville going to Arizona among other departures.

“(Turner Thorne’s) decision to leave really opened the door for me,” Hanson said. “I was wanting to trust God with whatever decision I made and felt peace about Oregon. Kelly (Graves) called me up and he showed up at my house right away. He wanted me for my leadership and toughness and ability to score and shoot.”

Ducks coach Graves said Hanson, who scored 17 points against USC on New Year’s Day and 13 in her return to ASU on Friday, hasn’t complained about not starting, even though it means playing behind freshmen Chance Gray and Grace VanSlooten.

”She hasn’t made coming off the bench an issue,” Graves said. “She’s a great team player, and I knew that after having talked to her coaches before she transferred to us. She’s all about the team, and I love that. It’s great to have that kind of firepower come in.”

Hanson said, “I love my teammates and I’ve always tried to be a selfless player. I’m going to bring the passion and joy for the game any time I can because that’s who I am. I can’t say coming off the bench as a fifth year is an easy thing to do, but it’s the cards I’ve been dealt right now and I’m going to do whatever I can to do my job the best way that is possible.”

Vonleh had 15 points in Colorado’s win over Utah, one of four Buffs who scored in double figures.

Loville, Hanson, Martin and Bigby are among the Pac-12’s 3-point percentage leaders.

Weekly honors nominees

Player of the Week: Raegan Beers, Oregon State; Cameron Brink, Stanford; Frida Formann, Colorado; Londynn Jones, UCLA; Charlisse Leger-Walker, Washington State; Lelani McIntosh, California; Shaina Pellington, Arizona; Endyia Rogers, Oregon; Tyi Skinner, Arizona State; Kayla Williams, USC.

Freshman of the Week: Raegan Beers, Oregon State; Kailyn Gilbert, Arizona, Londynn Jones, UCLA; Grace VanSlooten, Oregon.

*** Follow Metcalfe on Twitter via @jeffmetcalfe